Quiz: Howstuffworks

Can You Name the MLB Team If We Give You Three of Their Franchise Legends?

Jonnathan Chadwick

Image: Wiki Commons by Arturo Pardavila III

About This Quiz

The origins of baseball aren't exactly known. Some say it stemmed from the game of Rounders that was played in England and Wales during Tudor times. Some say it's a variation of cricket, which dates all the way back to the 16th century, and others claim that it was based on the game of Stoolball, which was played in the British Isles during the 15th century. If you really want to find the first game that used a ball and a stick in similar fashion, you can go all the way back to the 14th century Romanian game of Oina. The origins of the game are such a mystery that in 2011, the MLB Commissioner appointed a Baseball Origins Committee to discover how the game started.

Nevertheless, by 1845 Americans in New York formed a club called the Knickerbockers and played a similar game. Once the Civil War started, the game traveled South and West and thousands of soldiers were playing it in between battles regularly. By 1869, the first professional baseball team - the Cincinnati Red Stockings - was formed, and over the next decade 15 teams would be created to create the National League. The oldest team in the National League still around today is the Boston Red Stockings, who later became the Boston Braves, then the Milwaukee Braves, and are today called the Atlanta Braves. Twenty years later, in 1901, the American League was formed and by 1903 both leagues joined forced to create Major League Baseball. It's America's game and it has created some of America's greatest sports legends. How well do you know them?

Which northeastern team did Ted Williams, Roger Clemens and David Ortiz play for?

Toronto Blue Jays

New York Yankees

Boston Red Sox

New York Mets

Ted Williams, Roger Clemens and David Ortiz all played for the Boston Red Sox at different times in the storied history of the organization. Ortiz was integral in bringing a World Series championship to Boston after an 86-year drought.

For what team did Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig don pinstripes?

Boston Red Sox

New York Yankees

Baltimore Orioles

Texas Rangers

Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig played for the New York Yankees. The Yankees are one of the most popular sports franchises in all of American sports. The Dallas Cowboys of the NFL is the only American team that is more valuable.

Where did Willie Mays, Barry Bonds and Madison Bumgarner play?

San Francisco Giants

Houston Astros

Los Angeles Dodgers

Colorado Rockies

Willie Mays, Barry Bonds and Madison Bumgarner all played for the San Francisco Giants and as of 2019, Bumgarner is still active on the roster. Bumgarner has won three World Series championships (2010, 2012, 2014).

What team did Sandy Koufax, Kirk Gibson and Clayton Kershaw play on?

Seattle Mariners

Los Angeles Dodgers

Houston Astros

Miami Marlins

Sandy Koufax, Kirk Gibson and Clayton Kershaw all played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and as of 2019, Kershaw was still active on the roster. Kershaw is one of the league's best pitchers, but has a way to go to catch up to Koufax, who is one of the best pitchers in history.

What was the name of the team that Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Duke Snider played for?

Brooklyn Dodgers

Los Angeles Angels

New York Mets

Philadelphia Phillies

Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Duke Snider played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, they were located in Brooklyn. They are best-known for being the team that drafted the first African American player - Jackie Robinson.

Which of these teams did Ernie Banks, Sammy Sosa and Andre Dawson play on?

Boston Red Sox

St. Louis Cardinals

Colorado Rockies

Chicago Cubs

Ernie Banks, Sammy Sosa and Andre Dawson played for the Chicago Cubs. In 1998, Sosa and Mark McGwire were neck and neck in chasing the single-season home run record. McGwire won, but that record was later broken by Barry Bonds, who currently holds it.

Where did Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and Chase Utley play?

Toronto Blue Jays

Philadelphia Phillies

Milwaukee Brewers

Baltimore Orioles

Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and Chase Utley played for the Philadelphia Phillies. Utley was a Phillies favorite and won a World Series with the team in 2008. He played both first and second base and was on the winning side of four no-hitters.

On what team did Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza and David Wright star on?

New York Mets

Toronto Blue Jays

Milwaukee Brewers

Los Angeles Dodgers

Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza and David Wright played for the New York Mets. Wright just retired last year and played his entire career for the Mets. He was such a fan favorite he was nicknamed "Captain America."

What team starred Nolan Ryan, Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio?

Cleveland Indians

Colorado Rockies

Arizona Diamondbacks

Houston Astros

Nolan Ryan, Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio played for the Houston Astros. Ryan is considered one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball and holds the record for most no-hitters thrown with seven.

Which of these teams starred Matt Holliday, Todd Helton and Larry Walker?

Colorado Rockies

Milwaukee Brewers

Toronto Blue Jays

Cleveland Indians

Matt Holliday, Todd Helton and Larry Walker all played for the Colorado Rockies. Larry Walker was a National League home-run leader and MVP in 1997, but it was Holliday and Helton who led the team to its first World Series Appearance in 2007 where they lost to the Boston Red Sox.

Where did Hank Aaron, Chipper Jones and Greg Maddux play?

Miami Marlins

Toronto Blue Jays

Atlanta Braves

Pittsburgh Pirates

Hank Aaron, Chipper Jones and Greg Maddux all played for the Atlanta Braves. When you add John Smoltz and Tom Glavine to the mix, the Atlanta Braves organization is home to some of the best pitchers in MLB history.

What team did Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield and Jake Peavy play on?

San Diego Padres

Minnesota Twins

Cleveland Indians

Arizona Diamondbacks

Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield and Jake Peavy all played for the San Diego Padres. In 2007, Peavy won a Cy Young award, but Gwynn is probably the most remembered Padre of all time, winning eight batting titles in his career.

Which of these teams featured Kirby Puckett, Rod Carew and Torii Hunter?

Minnesota Twins

Toronto Blue Jays

Chicago White Sox

Baltimore Orioles

Kirby Puckett, Rod Carew and Torii Hunter played for the Minnesota Twins. Puckett was a two-time World Series champion, 10-time All-Star, six-time Gold Glove winner and had one of the highest batting averages in MLB history.

On what team did Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell play?

Pittsburgh Pirates

Seattle Mariners

Toronto Blue Jays

Miami Marlins

Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell all played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, which is one of two teams that play in the state of Philadelphia. Wagner has the most valuable baseball card, with one being sold for more than $3 million.

Where did Kenny Lofton, Jim Thome and Bob Feller play?

Detroit Tigers

Boston Red Sox

San Francisco Giants

Cleveland Indians

Kenny Lofton, Jim Thome and Bob Feller all played for the Cleveland Indians. Kenny Lofton was a six-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner. He also stole 622 bases during his career and is known as one of the fastest players in MLB history.

What team did Mark McGwire, Lou Brock and Rogers Hornsby play for?

Chicago Cubs

St. Louis Cardinals

Milwaukee Brewers

Baltimore Orioles

Mark McGwire, Lou Brock and Rogers Hornsby all played for the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League. Mark McGwire led the entire MLB in home runs with 70, which was the record until 2001 when Barry Bonds hit 73.

For what team did Zack Greinke, Luis Gonzalez and Randy Johnson play?

Detroit Tigers

San Diego Padres

Arizona Diamondbacks

Baltimore Orioles

Zack Greinke, Luis Gonzalez and Randy Johnson played for the Arizona Diamondback. In 2004, Johnson become one of only 23 people to have pitched a perfect game in the MLB. He pitched this game against the Atlanta Braves.

Which of these teams featured Giancarlo Stanton, Dontrelle Willis and Derrek Lee?

Los Angeles Dodgers

Miami Marlins

St. Louis Cardinals

New York Mets

Giancarlo Stanton, Dontrelle Willis and Derrek Lee played for the Miami Marlins. The Marlins are a a fairly new team, having joined the National League in 1993 as the Florida Marlins. The franchise was started by the CEO of Blockbuster.

Who did Wade Boggs, B. J. Upton and Evan Longoria play for?

Milwaukee Brewers

Colorado Rockies

Arizona Diamondbacks

Tampa Bay Rays

Wade Boggs, B. J. Upton and Evan Longoria all played for the Tampa Bay Rays. Longoria played for the Rays from 2008 to 2017, but is now a third baseman for the San Francisco Giants. Tampa Bay joined the MLB in 1998.

Where did Ian Desmond, Max Scherzer and Ryan Zimmerman play?

Washington Nationals

Philadelphia Phillies

Baltimore Orioles

New York Mets

Ian Desmond, Max Scherzer and Ryan Zimmerman played for the Washington Nationals of Washington, D.C. The Montreal Expos was an MLB team from 1969 to 2004 and by 2005 they were renamed and relocated, giving birth to the Nationals.

What team did Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson and Reggie Jackson play for?

Milwaukee Brewers

Detroit Tigers

Oakland Athletics

Colorado Rockies

Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson and Reggie Jackson all played for the Oakland Athletics at different times. Eckersley was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2004 but is most well-known for giving up a walk-off home run to Kirk Gibson in the 1988 World Series.

Which of these teams starred Bo Jackson, George Brett and Bret Saberhagen?

Kansas City Royals

Detroit Tigers

Cleveland Indians

Baltimore Orioles

Bo Jackson, George Brett and Bret Saberhagen all played for the Kansas City Royals. Bo Jackson is one of the only players to have played two major American sports. He also played as a running back for the Oakland Raiders in the NFL.

On what team did Fred McGriff, Roberto Alomar and Roy Halladay play?

Toronto Blue Jays

Boston Red Sox

Atlanta Braves

Los Angeles Angels

Fred McGriff, Roberto Alomar and Roy Halladay all played for the Toronto Blue Jays, which is the only Canadian team in the MLB. The Blue Jays organization entered the league in 1977. Montral had an MLB team until 2004.

Where did Ken Griffey, Jr., Ichiro Suzuki and Edgar Martinez play?

San Diego Padres

Seattle Mariners

Arizona Diamondbacks

Houston Astros

Ken Griffey, Jr., Ichiro Suzuki and Edgar Martinez played for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro holds the single-season records for most hits and most singles in a season. Griffey Jr. received more than 99% of first-ballot votes when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

For what team did Ty Cobb, Ivan Rodriguez and Al Kaline play for?

Texas Rangers

Houston Astros

Detroit Tigers

Colorado Rockies

Ty Cobb, Ivan Rodriguez and Al Kaline all played for the Detroit Tigers. Cobb is considered one of the greatest professional athletes in the history of sports and he holds the record for highest all-time batting average in the MLB with a .367 BA.

What team did Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench and Pete Rose play on?

Cleveland Indians

Cincinnati Reds

Milwaukee Brewers

Baltimore Orioles

Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench and Pete Rose all played for the Cincinnati Reds. Rose became a manager for the Reds once his playing career ended, but was ultimately banned from baseball for betting on games in which he managed.

On what team did Gaylord Perry, Mark Teixeira and Adrian Beltre play?

Tampa Bay Rays

Miami Marlins

Texas Rangers

Arizona Diamondbacks

Gaylord Perry, Mark Teixeira and Adrian Beltre played for the Texas Rangers. The Rangers organization was established in 1961 as the Washington Senators and they represented Washington, D.C. Then they moved to Arlington, TX in 1972 and have been there ever since.

Where did Cal Ripken, Jr., Frank Robinson and Mike Mussina play?

Cincinnati Reds

Baltimore Orioles

Chicago Cubs

Minnesota Twins

Cal Ripken, Jr., Frank Robinson and Mike Mussina all played for the Baltimore Orioles. Cal Ripken Jr. is nicknamed the Ironman and holds the record for consecutive games played with 2,632. It is considered one of the "unbreakable" records in the MLB.

Which of these teams starred Frank Thomas, Shoeless Joe Jackson and Paul Konerko?

Cincinnati Reds

Baltimore Orioles

Colorado Rockies

Chicago White Sox

Frank Thomas, Shoeless Joe Jackson and Paul Konerko all played for the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox are infamous for taking part in the Black Sox scandal of 1919, where players allegedly accepted money to lose.

Where did Prince Fielder, Paul Molitor and Robin Yount play?

Milwaukee Brewers

Arizona Diamondbacks

Texas Rangers

Cleveland Indians

Prince Fielder, Paul Molitor and Robin Yount played for the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers originally entered the MLB as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 but were quickly moved to Milwaukee in 1970 and have been there ever since.

What team did Vladimir Guerrero, Mike Trout and John Lackey play for?

Seattle Mariners

Detroit Tigers

Los Angeles Angels

Arizona Diamondbacks

Vladimir Guerrero, Mike Trout and John Lackey all played for the Los Angeles Angels, which is one of two MLB teams based in Los Angeles. Trout currently plays center field for the team and is the highest-paid athlete in the MLB.

Can you name what team Alex Rodriguez, Yu Darvish and Rafael Palmeiro played for?

Detroit Tigers

Texas Rangers

Arizona Diamondbacks

Miami Marlins

Alex Rodriguez, Yu Darvish and Rafael Palmeiro all played for the Texas Rangers. Before Alex Rodriguez wore the pinstripes in the Bronx, he played shortstop for the Rangers. His free agency led to one of the biggest paydays in all of sports.

Which of these teams did Satchel Paige, Manny Ramirez and Jim Thorpe play for?

Cleveland Indians

Milwaukee Brewers

Washington Nationals

Oakland Athletics

Satchel Paige, Manny Ramirez and Jim Thorpe all played for the Cincinnati Reds. Satchel Paige played in the Negro League for most of his career, but once MLB integrated, he joined the Cleveland Indians. At 42, he was the oldest MLB rookie.

Who did Cy Young, Doc Miller and Cliff Curtis play for?

Montreal Expos

Boston Rustlers

Seattle Pilots

New York Yankees

Cy Young, Doc Miller and Cliff Curtis played for the Boston Rustlers in the early 1900s. The team has since evolved many times and is today known as the Atlanta Braves. Young is known as one of the sport's greatest pitchers and the Cy Young award is named after him.

What team did Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra play for?

Philadelphia Phillies

Chicago White Sox

New York Yankees

New York Mets

Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra all played for the New York Yankees and they're not just considered Yankee royalty, but MLB royalty. Mantle, Dimaggio and Berra have several awards and records among them.

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